Conditioned to eat while watching television? Low-income caregivers’ perspectives on the role of snacking and television viewing among pre-schoolers

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15096882
AutoresRachel E Blaine (0000-0003-3561-7601, Harvard University, autor correspondente), Jennifer O Fisher (0000-0002-8804-5857, Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Christine E Blake (0000-0002-0121-6837, South Carolina Department of Education), Alexandria Orloski (Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Nicholas Younginer (0000-0002-0374-8829, South Carolina Department of Education), Yasmeen Bruton (0000-0002-5936-5245, Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Claudia Ganter (Harvard University), Eric B Rimm (0000-0002-1402-7250, Harvard University), Alan C Geller (0000-0003-3060-5513, Harvard University), Keith K Davison (0000-0002-3492-918X, Harvard University), Kirsten K Davison
Ano2016
Volume19
Fascículo9
Páginas1598-1605
Data de publicação2016-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s136898001500364x
PMID26794059
OpenAlexW2406144641
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas9
Referências citadas35

Objective Although television (TV) viewing is frequently paired with snacking among young children, little is known about the environment in which caregivers promote this behaviour. We describe low-income pre-schoolers’ snacking and TV viewing habits as reported by their primary caregivers, including social/physical snacking contexts, types of snacks and caregiver rationales for offering snacks. These findings may support the development of effective messages to promote healthy child snacking. Design Semi-structured interviews assessed caregiver conceptualizations of pre-schoolers’ snacks, purpose of snacks, snack context and snack frequency. Setting Interviews occurred in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Subjects Forty-seven low-income multi-ethnic primary caregivers of children aged 3–5 years (92 % female, 32 % Hispanic/Latino, 34 % African American) described their child’s snacking in the context of TV viewing. Results TV viewing and child snacking themes were described consistently across racial/ethnic groups. Caregivers described snacks offered during TV viewing as largely unhealthy. Labels for TV snacks indicated non-nutritive purposes, such as ‘time out’, ‘enjoyment’ or ‘quiet.’ Caregivers’ primary reasons for providing snacks included child’s expectations, behaviour management (e.g. to occupy child) and social time (e.g. family bonding). Some caregivers used TV to distract picky children to eat more food. Child snacking and TV viewing were contextually paired by providing child-sized furniture (‘TV table’) specifically for snacking. Conclusions Low-income caregivers facilitate pre-schoolers’ snacking and TV viewing, which are described as routine, positive and useful for non-nutritive purposes. Messages to caregivers should encourage ‘snack-free’ TV viewing, healthy snack options and guidance for managing children’s behaviour without snacks or TV

Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Ethnic group · Geography · Obesity · Snack food · Snacking · Child Development and Digital Technology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Food Science